Whatcom County is a community rich in the resources needed to help each and every citizen save energy in their homes, at their places of work, and at school — just about anywhere energy is used. The Bellingham Energy Prize is a group effort to bring these resources together to make it even easier to access expert help and take simple steps to save even more.
Bellingham and Whatcom County residents certainly aren’t new to the idea of saving energy. Over the past several years many individuals, families and business have taken measures to improve their homes, adopt new habits at work and school, and in general, learn more about the effects of using energy on our environment. Overall, this has resulted in a reduction of energy use, healthier homes and buildings, saving money on energy bills, and the good feeling of being thoughtful stewards of our planet.
Why is Bellingham Energy Prize asking us to save even more?
Bellingham Is a Finalist
Turns out we have a pretty big incentive to dig deeper and to save more energy. The city of Bellingham is one of 50 semi-finalists in a competition to win the Georgetown University Energy Prize. Whichever community reduces their energy use most and sets a good example for others to follow will win a jackpot of $5 million. If Bellingham comes out on top, the winning funds will be used on local projects that will help the community save in bigger ways that benefit everyone.
Not sure there’s any more you can do?
There are so many things people can do from the smallest DIY project to big projects like installing solar panels. Even if everyone chose five simple steps to reduce their energy consumption, it all adds up in the end.
The Bellingham Energy Prize group has created a new website www.BellinghamEnergyPrize.org for individuals to obtain monthly updates showing actual energy savings, personalized advice and tips for homes, comparisons on how energy use stacks up against similar homes, special rebates and incentives available, guides and articles about saving energy and more. Participants can even join a group — and challenge others to see who can save the most energy!
Bellingham Energy Prize hopes residents will look for more ways to save by visiting BellinghamEnergyPrize.org and joining the growing number of community members who are doing their part to make Bellingham #1.
Bellingham Energy Prize partners: Bellingham Public School District, Cascade Natural Gas, City of Bellingham, Community Energy Challenge, Opportunity Council, Puget Sound Energy, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Connections, and Western Washington University.
